I found an axle set from a ford 9" (unsure what year as of right now) with a 3.55 gear ratio (front or rear, unsure). It is at a junk yard and the guy needs to double check on the ID. It is a 5.5 lug pattern. If it is a match, he wants $600 for the set. My 79 CJ7 is a wide axle with a (broken) rear amc 20 3.54, so assuming front dana 30 is 3.55. Front dana is still good. I was told I may have to cut down the axle if I get it. Any thoughts on whether it will fit, what I will need to do to it and is this a good price? And how do I tell what front axle I have for sure?

Sounds like a lot of work/cost to make the used axle work. by the time your done you will be close to buying a pro built new axle with some kind of warranty. Unless you can do all the work yourself sounds a bit iffy.

Depends on the year- most trucks got wider in the '90s. If it's not one of those it's probably not too far off but perches will likely be different. That should add at least $100 if you aren't doing it yourself.

Sounds like too high of a price for a half ton rear you may need to mod.

I found an axle set from a ford 9" (unsure what year as of right now) with a 3.55 gear ratio (front or rear, unsure). It is at a junk yard and the guy needs to double check on the ID. It is a 5.5 lug pattern. If it is a match, he wants $600 for the set. My 79 CJ7 is a wide axle with a (broken) rear amc 20 3.54, so assuming front dana 30 is 3.55. Front dana is still good. I was told I may have to cut down the axle if I get it. Any thoughts on whether it will fit, what I will need to do to it and is this a good price? And how do I tell what front axle I have for sure?

Right now I have a 9" out of a '78 Bronco I am going to narrow for my CJ6 to wide track width. Looks like I will have to narrow it about 10" total. Also have the front high pinion Dana 44 but, am going to use a Dana 44 axle out of a '77 Wagoneer, only have to cut 4" out of the drivers side tube and move the spring mount.

Trouble with the Bronco front axle is in 1978 Ford went to a large casting on the inner-C that is not able to be readily cut down, unless you are going to retain the Ford radius arms. '77 and earlier Ford Dana 44 front axles had the mounts for the radius arms welded onto the tube and can be removed to narrow and convert to leaf spring suspension. Also the Ford front axles have the pumpkin on the drivers side, CJs have the pumpkin on the passenger side unless you are going to also swap the transfer case!

Another nice thing about the '77 Wagoneer axle is it is factory spring under axle and has the mounting pad already on the center casting in the right location for the swap. After pulling the axle out of the donor I figured out 2 more advantages to the Wagoneer axle, it has flat top steering knuckles that if I ever want to run high steer it is ready, and the tie rods are also mounted on the TOP of the steering arms. So I don't have to do a tie rod end flip.

I own a Harley and a JEEP, still some people can't figure out why I'm broke!

Got to thinking for $600 I hope is for a "set" as in both axles. Even at $300 per axle seems kind of spendy to me. My 9" rear was already under my CJ6 I bought for $850, my Wagoneer axle I bought a rusty shell (no interior, motor, trans, or transfer case) for $300 pulled the axle and steering box out. Hope to get at least $200 back out of what is left at the scrapers. When buying axles like this take into account unless you get real lucky and find one the width you need,with limited slip or locker, and in the ratio you want, you are going to have at least $1,000 more in each axle to get it to where you want it. More if you cannot set it up properly and have a professional do it. Even more if you do it yourself and do it wrong!

If you want a 9" Ford for the rear look on Craig's List, find a parts 1/2 ton truck or Bronco for cheap and pull the parts you need. If there is anything else good you can resell to make it even cheaper. This was not the case with my Wagoneer but, got it cheap enough not to worry too much about it.

I own a Harley and a JEEP, still some people can't figure out why I'm broke!